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520i has the same m50 engine as 320i.
Small engine for a large car - you better off looking for a 525i.
520i is not a grey import car as it was allowed to North America without problems, but was not offered here for sale.

The car I'm considering is actually a grey import. It was shipped over several months ago and still is on german papers. Once purchased, the seller (actually a dealer) will register the car in Ontario.

Main reason for considerinf this car is that it is euro, so manual climate control, lights, manual windows etc. Down the line an engine swap is always an option.

fyi grey import cars are cars that are not allowed in North America, but were imported as other similar vehicles - e.g. e34 m5 euro imported as e34 535i etc
520i was allowed and hence it was a regular import.

So now I'm confused. As far as I know, a grey import vehicle is one that does not meet CMVSS/FMVSS standards.
This vehicle, just like my grey import VW, does not have canadian/US homologation, even though other e34's (or mk3 Golfs) have been sold in North America.

By default, ANY vehicle that has been built outside of CMVSS/FMVSS standards and is less than 15 years old is a grey import and is not allowed in Canada. If it is older than 15 years old, like my VW, then it can be imported but is still considered a grey import. This goes for any vehicle, sold in North America or not.

The car I'm looking at is a 1991. I can guarantee that if anyone tried to import this car from Germany before 2006, it would be denied entry into the country. Once on Canadian soil, it would either have to be deported back to destroyed under the supervision of Customs Canada.

why would u want a 520i, it's a tragic car, it eats more gas than a 525i and from my experience very underpowered engine considering it's in a big heavy sedan. Just get the US spec 1994-1995 525i and call it a day.

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1990 M5 Euro
You wash your car like it was your firstborn child, you tend to its needs like it was your own body, you protect it like it's your family, then you drive it like you stole it

If it still matters, there are some important parts on the 520i that are not the same as the NA 525i. The brakes for instance are smaller and different. Just kind of keep that in mind as those parts and a few more will be hard to find when replacement time comes around.